OJ&B In The Press: Alumni Blogger Becomes Fashion's "Top Cop"

Texas State University's campus newspaper The University Star recently did an article about OJ&B becoming an Us Weekly Fashion Police Top Cop! The article talks about how OJ&B got started and discusses my time at Texas State's official radio station KTSW! Check out the article below!

Alumni blogger becomes fashion’s “top cop”

Feb 1 2012 by Paige Lambert

The “someday” many students dream of has arrived for a Texas State alumnus and a US Weekly fashion department’s “top cop.”

Jonathan Valdez, 2009 graduate, worked his way from university media to laying down the law for a major US publication. His journey to the top of the fashion foodchain had humble beginnings.
“I can remember working at HEB and reading the commentary on US Weekly’s latest issue,” Valdez said. “Every time I would think ‘I want to be there someday.’”

Valdez said he spent three years working for KTSW as a DJ for the morning show Orange Juice and Biscuits.

“It was a great show, well produced, with a lot of unique features,” Dan Schumacher, professor and general manager of KTSW, said. “It helped Jonathan discover what he had and refine those skills.”

Valdez and his cohost Mandy Dugan interviewed celebrities at the SXSW Film Festival in 2009.
“We worked the red carpet and talked to J.K. Simmons, Jason Segel, and other actors in the movie ‘I Love You, Man,’” Dugan, Spring 2010 graduate, said.

US Weekly’s fashion director saw his commentary via Twitter and set the gears in motion for him to become “top cop.”

Valdez said he moved to New York, was invited to different shows and met key people in the entertainment industry.

ABC Channel 7 of New York asked Valdez to comment on the Golden Globe fashion.

“I jumped when they called,” Valdez said. “It’s the next level after blogging, and it was great to get back on air. “

Valdez comments for “fashion police,” a section of US weekly focusing on celebrity styles, every other week. His commentary has been published numerous times since he started writing for them.

Schumacher said Valdez grew during his time at the radio station.

“I would support him all the way, but it was his own motivation that got him going,” Schumacher said. “An elite bunch of students emerge from KTSW, and he was one of them.”

Special thanks to Paige Lambert and The University Star for this great article!  It is always an honor to speak with fellow Texas State Bobcats!  I also want to send a special thank you to Dan Schumacher for taking time out to say such wonderful things about me.  I know how busy you are and it meant so much!

You can check out the article on the University Star website here.